Who: Joana Draghici

Where: Sweet Bakery and Coffee House

When she isn’t sleuthing out the next story for CBC Saskatchewan, Joana Draghici is spicing up Regina streets with her always clean and slick style. She knows the value of a rare find, and shares some tips on how to make your style your own.

How do you describe your style?

It’s a combination of vintage pieces and store-bought new stuff that I find cool.

What’s the vintage find you have on now?

I found this really old suede GAP vest. When I tried it on all my friends said, “What the hell are you wearing?” but I loved it. It has a bit of a worn look.

When you go vintage shopping, what do you look for?

My sister and I used to go vintage shopping before it was the thing to do, and we had this rule that you can’t buy anything you would find in a regular store. So it has to be a unique piece, it has to stand out. It has to be real vintage. Sometimes you can find some designer pieces too which is cool, but it has to be one of a kind or really old.

What’s your favourite piece you’re wearing right now?

It would have to be my belt. It has a story behind it. One of my really good friends, Philipa Croom, gave it to me. It was her mother’s. Her mom grew up in Malaysia in a poor family and eventually became a stewardess for Malaysia Airlines, and this belt was actually part of her uniform. It has a globe on it, and it’s a bit torn. She met Philipa’s dad when she was working as a stewardess. He was businessman from Britain and she was wearing it when they met on a flight. So her mom kept it, and she passed it down to Philipa, but it didn’t fit her, so she gave it to me. Whenever I wear it I think of her. I don’t get to see her a lot because she’s in Africa.

How do you decide what you’re going to wear in the morning?

It mainly depends on my mood. Some days I feel more girly and other days I feel like I have more of a masculine mood. So that definitely plays a role in how I dress. Today is more masculine, more western.

Do you have any fashion tips?

Don’t try and copy anyone else. Be unique. Dress in what makes you feel comfortable and shows a part of your personality.

Do you follow any fashion rules yourself?

I’m not good at following any rules in general, so I’m definitely not going to follow rules when it comes to fashion. I think fashion rules may apply to people who need a bit more direction when it comes to style. But you can find unique ways to combine the blue and black, or the brown and black, or the gold and silver. There are cool ways to do it if you are creative. Just be a bit adventurous.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love looking up runway stuff, and I check out Vogue UK. I like seeing what’s up and coming. It also has the street fashion section — it’s my favourite. That’s where I think real style comes from — real genuine style. I think that’s where designers get inspired, too. The Sartorialist [sartorialist.com] is another awesome website. It’s all street fashion. You can get great ideas and inspiration on there.